Sunday, September 12, 2010

At least four protesters have been killed in clashes between police and demonstrators in Indian-administered Kashmir, police say.

The protesters say that the dead were unarmed but police said they were forced to open fire after they were pelted with stones.Two of those killed were teenagers taking part in protests in the town of Sopore, north of Srinagar.

Other demonstrators were killed in the towns of Trehhgam and Pattan.

More than 50 civilians have been killed by police in the Kashmir Valley in the past two months.

Kashmiris are angry over what is seen as an excessive use of force against unarmed protesters.

The BBC's Altaf Hussain in Srinagar says in most cases the police have fired live ammunition while the protesters have thrown stones.